Leonardo and Jasmine entered the mansion together.
Everything inside reflected understated luxury. Cream-colored marble floors stretched beneath crystal chandeliers, while antique paintings and handcrafted furniture decorated every corner.
Despite its grandeur, the house felt strangely quiet.
“There aren’t many people living here?” Jasmine asked.
Leonardo nodded. “I prefer peace.”
A housekeeper respectfully greeted them before taking Jasmine’s luggage upstairs.
Leonardo walked ahead. “The second floor.”
Jasmine followed him quietly. When they reached the landing, he pointed toward the first room on the left.
“That’s our room.”
Jasmine stopped walking. “Our room?”
She stared at him. He had already continued forward without noticing her expression.
Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
Their room?!
Did he mean...they were going to sleep together?
Although they were legally husband and wife now but their marriage was contractual.
He had said he wouldn’t touch her without consent so she thought she didn’t need to worry about sleeping with him.
Could she have misunderstood the agreement?
Or had he changed his mind?
The thought made her ears slowly turn red. She followed him into the spacious bedroom.
The room was nearly the size of her previous apartment.
A king-sized bed occupied the center. Her heart skipped another beat.
Leonardo noticed her standing stiffly by the doorway. “What are you waiting for?”
“Nothing.”
She forced herself to remain calm.
Maybe he’d sleep on the sofa?
Maybe there was another bedroom connected inside?
Trying not to overthink things, she quietly unpacked her suitcase.
Clothes were neatly hung inside the enormous dressing room.
Toiletries were arranged beside the sink.
Only after everything was organized did she remember something. “My phone...”
She had switched it off during the flight and forgotten to turn it back on.
The screen lit up.
Immediately, dozens of notifications flooded in.
Missed calls.
Messages.
Almost all of them were from one person.
Vincenzo.
Her younger brother.
Did something happen?
Her heart tightened.
She immediately dialed his number.
The call connected after only two rings.
“Hello?” Relief washed over her when the call finally connected. Vin, what happened? Why did you call me so many...”
“This is the West District Police Station.”
Jasmine froze. “Police station?”
“Are you Miss Jasmine Gallo?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Officer Rocco. Your younger brother, Vincenzo Gallo, was involved in a physical altercation earlier today. He is currently at the station assisting with our investigation. We contacted you several times since you’re listed as his emergency contact, we’d appreciate it if you could come as soon as possible.”
Jasmine’s face lost all color. “What happened?”
“The details can be explained after you arrive.”
“Is he hurt?”
“He suffered some minor injuries.”
Her heart clenched painfully.
“I’ll come immediately.” She ended the call with trembling fingers.
“Vin...” Just then, she noticed someone standing outside the dressing room.
Leonardo.
He had apparently come upstairs to retrieve a document and had inadvertently overheard part of the conversation.
“What happened?”
“It’s my brother.” She tried to remain composed. “He got into a fight, the police asked me to pick him up.”
Without hesitation, she grabbed her handbag. “I’ll call a taxi.”
Before she could leave the room, he calmly spoke. “I’ll take you.”
She paused. “You don’t have to.”
“It’s on the way.”
She knew that wasn’t true.
Still, his expression remained as composed as ever.
“There are procedures at police stations. Having another person there may help.”
Jasmine hesitated.
Finally, she nodded softly. “Thank you.”
Leonardo simply turned toward the staircase. “I’ll have Bruno prepare the car.”
Watching his retreating figure, Jasmine felt an unfamiliar warmth settle quietly in her chest.
**********
A black Maybach sliced through the evening traffic with effortless authority, its engine purring softly beneath the silence that filled the cabin.
Jasmine sat in the passenger seat, her fingers clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles had turned white.
She had spent the last twenty minutes staring out of the window, watching the city lights blur into streaks of gold and white. Every passing minute only made the knot in her chest tighten.
Her younger brother was waiting for her in a police station. She had no idea how badly he was hurt.
Beside her, Leonardo drove with one hand resting lazily on the steering wheel, his expression as unreadable as ever. His tailored black suit looked immaculate despite the late hour, and the faint scent of cedarwood lingered inside the car.
Neither of them spoke.
Soon, the towering building of the West District Police Station came into view.
At almost the same time, another luxury car slowly rolled out through the station’s front gates.
Inside sat Dante, his brows were knitted together as he loosened his tie in irritation.
The day’s events had left him in an exceptionally foul mood.
Across from him, Franco, who sat in the driver’s seat, suddenly stiffened.
His eyes widened. “That’s...”
Dante looked up lazily. “What?”
Franco pointed discreetly through the windshield. “That car...”
A black Maybach glided toward the station entrance.
Its customized license plate was unmistakable.
Franco swallowed. “That’s Second Master Leonardo Madrigal’s car.”
Everyone inside Dante’s car immediately turned to look.
The bodyguard in the passenger seat frowned.
“What would Second Master Leonardo be doing at a police station?”
“No idea.”
“Did someone offend him?”
“Could he be here to pick someone up?”
Dante’s gaze narrowed.
Second Master Leonardo Madrigal.
The man whose name carried enough weight to make half the business world lose sleep. No one dared provoke him. No one wanted to.
As the Maybach rolled past them, Dante unconsciously looked toward its tinted rear window.
For only a fleeting second, he thought he saw a silhouette sitting inside.
Long hair.
A slim figure.
It was nothing more than a blurred outline before the car disappeared beyond him.
Yet, something inside his chest tightened.
His fingers froze halfway through adjusting his cufflinks.
Dante shook his head.
Now, he was imagining things. He just wanted to see Jasmine.
Hadn’t she heard about what happened yet?
She should be rushing to him by now, to apologize, to comfort him.
He just needed to wait a little bit more. She would surely come looking for him once she heard he had been involved in a fight.
His irritation deepened, he hated the fact that they were yet to resolve things between them.
Maybe he should just wait a little longer.
Perhaps she would appear any second. Perhaps she’d run toward him like before.
The thought soothed his bruised pride just enough for him to remain seated.